According to the last 11 polls, Governor Greg Abbott leads former representative Beto O'Rourke by 8.8 points.

So what do you do when you've been struggling around 40% in the polls?  Maybe you break with your party on CRT or refine your position on taking people's AR-15s away?

A few days ago, Mr. O'Rourke said this about CRT:

When asked by a member of the audience if he thought the indoctrination scheme should be taught in schools, O'Rourke broke with many in his own party, replying, "No, I don't think it should be taught in our schools, yeah."

Beto said CRT is for law schools and not for kids, or something like that.

It's a risky move because it won't persuade his critics but may turn off his followers.  Beto needs a strong turnout, and it won't help when they are reminded of these flip-flops.  As you can hear, the reaction at his campaign stop was one of anger.

O'Rourke is running in a totally different political environment.  Simply put, 2022 is not 2018.  Governor Greg Abbott is not Senator Ted Cruz.

Lately, his attacks against Governor Abbott have become a bit bizarre and desperate.  This is from the Texas Tribune:

Beto O'Rourke, the Democratic nominee for Texas governor, called the Republican incumbent, Greg Abbott, "a thug" and an "authoritarian" on Saturday and compared Texas energy executives to Russian oligarchs in a blistering critique that presages an election that is about eight months away.

Sounds a little desperate?  Yes, he does.  The 2018 Beto was more of a charmer, calling on all Texas to come together.  The 2022 version has a mean streak, and we have not reached St. Patrick's Day yet.

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Image: Gage Skidmore.